Last



Patented May 25, 1926-.

WILLIAM SAKLAD, F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

LAST.

j Application filed August 26,1925'. Serial No. 52,582.-

-1 My present invention relates to lasts, and more particularly to an improved last used in the manufacture of boots and shoes designed to support the arch of the foot of the wearer.

A properly designed boot or shoe to support the arch of thefoot of the wearer or to retain-the shape of the arch of the foot should provide proper support for both the transverse and longitudinal arch. Such a boot or shoe is clearly described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 61,952 filed Oct. 12, 1925. My present invention relates to an improved lastA over which such boots or shoes may be built, and in carrying out my invention I so construct the inside ball of the bottom of the last as to fit Ithe seasamoid bone and the first metatarsal phalangeal joint. Further the inside ball is constructed to it the fifth metatarsal phalangeal joint,h thus forming an arch between the first and fifth metatarsal phalany geal joints, to thereby support the anterior to thereb mits the os calcis or heel of the foot to rest transverse arch. The contour of the bottom of the last, extending from the ball to the toe, is constructed to give freedom to the movement of the toes of the wearer vof the shoe built on the last. I also provide an eX- tension on the forepart of the last to allow for an elongation of the longitudinal arch, provide freedom of action. of the toes. I fmd that by taking in on the waist line of the last and leaving a fullness of the ball measure, that a boot or shoe built on the last will hug the waist part of the foot, as wel] as the inner and outer lpngitudinal arches, thus preventing forward slipping of the foot of the wearer. I also provide sufficient cone ory instep measure for the dorsum, or top, of'the foot, thereby preventing shutting 0E of the blood supply. Further, the outside drop shank and cuboid extension are so constructed as to support and give comfort to the outer longitudinal arch .of

the foot, while the inner longitudinal arch section gives full support to the metatarsal, cuneiform and the scaphoid bones, thus permitting flexibility, giving comfort to the foot and supporting the inner longitudinal arch. v Again, the curve of the heel seat perin the natural position, the back line or heel curve is so constructed as to conform to the natural line of the foot, while the sides of the last ensure close ankle fit of the boot or shoe built thereon.

The principal object of my invention i therefore, is an improved last for orthopedicfeatures of construction will appear as the description of4 f the invention progresses.

. In the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of'my'finvem. 1011, A f Fig.'1 is a side elevation, partly in section,

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view, 1

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, and

Fic'. 5 is a sectional elevation taken on the llne 5-5 of Fig. `1.

Referring to the drawings, designates a last of the block `type, although it is obvious that any other' type of last, such as a. two part last, may be employed. This last represents, in general outline, the human foot, 11 being the toe portion, 12 the cone and 13 the heel. AOn the bottom of the last the longitudinal arch extends from the point 14 on the ball to the point 15 adjacent to the rear end of the heel 13. The ball of the bottom of the last is cut away as indicated inFigs. 1, 2 and 3, to form a depression 16 and the inside portion thereof fits the sesamoid bone and the firstjmetatarsal joint of'the foot, while the outside portion 18 thereof fits the fifth metatarsal joint. -This construction provides a transverse arch of proper length and which supports the anterior arch of the foot. A boot or shoe built on such a last 'will prevent callouses and allow more spring to the step of the wearer.- Further, wheny building a boot or shoe on this' last, itis feasible toy havethe insole con form'to the contour of the depression 16, thereby making 1t possible to construct a boot or shoe with an inte ral arch support.

of the boot or shoebuilt thereon is sup-* ported at the ideal lor proper positionto correct falling or fallen arches and to main tain normal arches in their original'condi.-

tion, While yet allowing the supportingv muscles of the 'foot to properly and lnaturally Hex, as they must do to .maintain their? strength.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, is:

1. .An improved last provided with a longitudinal instep arch extending from the ball of the toe ortion to adjacent the rear end of the heel? a recess in the bottom of the last, separate from the longitudinal arch, to permit an arch supporter to be formed in the shoe made on said last be- -tween the first and fth metatarsaljoints drop shank and cuboid extension being so last, separate from the longitudinal arch,A

to permit an arch supporter to be formed in the shoe made on said last between the lirst and fifth metatarsal joints to support 'the 4anteridr arch of the foot, the front Wall of said recess extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of the bottom forepart of the last, the bottom of the recess sloping graduall toward the rear of the shank portion-k o the last, and the sides of said recess sloping sharply -to the shank of the last, the longitudinal archv being elongated forwardly o said recess and extend` ing rearwardly to adjacent the rear end of the heel to permit natural positioning of the os caleis in the shoe made on said last.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM SAKL. 

